Shuttle grip and strap assembly with insert



June Z4, 1969 J, 5, RUSSELL ET AL 3,451,439

SHUTTLE GRIP AND STRAP ASSEMBLY WITH INSERT Sheet Filed Jan. 17, 1968 Mn Nl l @uw ww OEA E TSM//V N NSF NRA `T m .K T 5 A j? s EN MH Og d4 VA BJune 24, 1969 J. 5 RUSSELL ET AL SHUTTLE GRIP AND STRAP ASSEMBLY lWITHINSERT Sheet 3 of2 Filed Jan. 17, 1968 f INVENTGRS.

JAMES S. RUSSELL t;

JOHN d, KAUFMANN,JR. BY d u, f 14 y. 7?- ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Office 3,451,439 Patented June 24, 1969 3,451,439SHUTTLE GRIP AND STRAP ASSEMBLY WITH INSERT James S. Russell, Greer, andJohn J. Kaufmann,

Jr., Greenville, S.C., assignors to Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company,Paris, S.C., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 17, 1968, Ser. No.698,454 Int. Cl. D03i 5/08 U.S. Cl. 139-207 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THEDISCLOSURE A shuttle grip and strap assembly wherein the strap, ofintegral construction of a relatively rigid incompressible syntheticpolymeric material having plastic set such as nylon, has an insertintegral with a cover portion.

The insert substantially iills the space Within the U-shaped Thisinvention relates to shuttles, and more especially to a shuttle grip andstrap assembly wherein the grip includes an insert, and wherein the griplis constructed entirely of integral members of nylon and the like.

All metal grip and strap assemblies as formerly used gave rise toseveral problems. One problem involved the vertical screw, whichpositioned the assembly within the shuttle. This screw would sometimesbreak off and rise out of the shuttle often tearing out a substantialportion of the warp. 'Ille metallic base plate of the Strap possessedrearwardly projecting ears which extended over a marginal portion of arelatively thin base portion of the body of the shuttle to transmitforces exerted upon the grip thereto. During an automatic bobbin changeoperation these ears exerted substantial forces adjacent the edge ormarginal portions of the base adjacent the bobbin receiving chamberdeveloping stress lines and fractures in the base. Such stress lines andfractures were the most common cause of structural failure of' theshuttle body. Splitting of the shuttle body was also caused by thevertical fastening means which held the assembly positioned within theshuttle body. Metal from which the assembly was constructed isinherently heavy and unyielding, thus producing an assembly possessingdisadvantages especially insofar as accommodating same within theshuttle body is concerned.

Accordingly, it is an important object of this invention to provide anintegral strap for properly positioning a grip within the shutttle body,which may be easily constructed of unitary molded material.

Another important object of the invention is to pro vide a shuttle gripand strap assembly wherein a fastening screw can no longer cause warpbreakouts.

Another important object of the invention is to minimize the use offastening means, avoiding splits in the shuttle body.

Another important object of the invention is to minimize cracking andsplitting in the relatively thin base portion of the shuttle whichsupports the shuttle grip and strap assembly.

VThe construction designed to carry out the invention will behereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a grip and strap assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGlU-R'E 2 is a top plan view further illustrating the assemblyconstructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional. elevation taken on the line 3--3 inFIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a strap constructed inaccordance with a modified form of the invention,

" modified form of the invention, and

i FIGUR-E 8 is a perspective view illustrating still another modiiiedform of the invention.

The drawings illustrate a shuttle grip `and strap assembly wherein thegrip, lreferred to at A, includes a substantially U-shaped shankportion. An integral strap has a substantially horizontal cover portionB overlying the U-shaped shank portion. An insert C is integral withsaid cover portion iB. The cover portion and the insert are constructedof relatively rigid incompressible synthetic polymeric material havingplastic set as to be capable of exerting a tight locking action upon ametallic element passing therethrough with a tight dit. The insertsubstantially lills the space within said U-shaped shank portion so asto insure proper grip opening. A fastening member 'D has an elongatedshank portion passing through an intermediate portion of said insert andhas a tight lit therein so that the insert lockingly grips the elongatedshank portion of the fastening member. Enlarged members are carried bythe terminal portions of the elongated shank portion of the fasteningmember D securing the cover, insert and grip portions together, andpositioning the assembly -within the shuttle body. Thus, shockoccasioned during weaving is absorbed by the insert which, also,positively retains the elongated shank portion of the fastening member.The cover and the insert have a downwardly inclined wall E integraltherewith. An enlarged base portion is integral with the cover, insertand wall for transferring force to the shuttle body during a bobbinchange operation. In a modiiied form of the invention, the grip insertand base are positioned directly upon the shuttle. A thickened shuttlebase portion F is provided beneath the enlarged base portion.

In FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings a conventional shuttle body,constructed from wood or plastic, is designated by the numeral l10. Theshuttle body 10 has a bobbin receiving cavity 11 and an extension 12thereof, for receiving a shuttle grip and strap assembly. The bobbinreceiving cavity 11 is defined in part by a marginal portion 13 whichforms a relatively thin base of the shuttle body for receiving forcesexerted during the bobbin change operation upon the shuttle grip andstrap assembly. The grip A has a substantially U-shaped shank portion14, iiex portions 15, and tip portions 16. The grip portion is normally,as here, constructed of steel. The integral strap has a substantiallyhorizontal cover portion B which overlies the U-shaped shank portion.The insert C is integral with the insert cover portion B andsubstantially lills the shank portion 14 of the shuttle grip. Thefastening member D has an elongated shank portion I17 `with a head 17aat one side thereof, and a nut 17b carried by a threaded portion 17c onthe other side. The enlarged portions 17a and 17b, together with theshank portion 17, secure the cover, insert and grip portions together,and position same positively within the cavity 12 which receives theshuttle grip and strap assembly.

Thus, shock occasioned during weaving is absorbed by the insert C whichalso positively retains the elongated Shank portion of the fasteningmember. It Iwill be observed that in the embodiment of the inventiondisclosed above, that no vertical fastening means is required to holdthe shuttle grip and strap assembly together and iirmly positionedwithin the shuttle body. The insert portion defining the opening 18Within the insert C lockingly engages the shank as by plastic set.

FIGURES 4, and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention wherein thecover portion B has a relatively short marginal portion 19 on each sidethereof so as not to extend substantially beyond the outer edges of theU-shaped shank portion. 'Ihe marginal portions 19 overlie the U-shapedshank portion. The inclined wall E is substantially wider than the coverB, as is best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The inclined wall E has arelatively broad base portion 20 positioned upon a relatively thin baseportion 12 of the shuttle. This embodiment is especially adaptable toease in the molding operation, and is constructed preferably from nylonand the like.

It will be observed that the spring grip A bears directly upon theshuttle base portion Y12 which, while relatively thin, is thickened asillustrated at F, by the space which would normally be occupied by abase plate portion of the strap.

FIGURE 7 illustrates another modified form of the invention wherein, inaddition to the opening 18 in the insert C, a vertical opening 21 isprovided for receiving an additional fastening means D. As in theembodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a base portion Z2 isprovided for the strap which supports the spring grip A.

FIGURE 8 illustrates still another modified form of the inventionemploying a horizontal opening 18 in the insert, as Well as a verticalopening 21. The horizontal opening 18 is split as by the slot 18a whichpermits pressure to be exerted upon the shank portion of the fasteningmeans passing therethrough to assure an especially tight iit. This isaccomplished by tightening the vertical fastening means which passthrough the opening 21.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described usingspecific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, andit is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

1. In a grip and strap assembly for a shuttle, said grip having asubstantially U-shaped shank portion; the irnprovement including: anintegral strap having a substantially horizontal cover portion overlyingsaid U-shaped shank portion; an insert integral with said cover portion;said cover portion and said insert being constructed of relatively rigidincompressible synthetic polymeric material; said insert engaging saidU-shaped shank portion so as to insure proper grip opening; a downwardlyinclined -wall integral with said cover and said insert constructed ofrelatively rigid incompressible synthetic polymeric material; afastening member having an elongated shank portion passing through anintermediate portion of said insert; and enlarged members carried by theterminal portions of said elongated shank portion of the fasteningmember securing the cover, insert and grip portions together; wherebyshock is absorbed by the insert which integrally retains and supportsthe cover and wall portion while avoiding damage to the warp andmaintaining proper grip opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,233,635 2/1-966 Klocker et al.139--207 3,351,100 11/1967 Bowen et al. 139-207 FOREIGN PATENTS 639,2475/ 1962 Italy.

JAMES KEE CHI, Prima/y Examiner'.

